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Deadline chatter: Peavy could set off dominoes

Deadline chatter: Peavy could set off dominoes

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By Matthew Leach
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MLB.com |

The time until the non-waiver Trade Deadline can now be counted hours instead of days, and things are getting hectic. Rumors are flying even faster than usual, and some are even turning into actual moves.

From now until the Deadline, which is today at 4 p.m. ET, we'll be checking in on the trade news around baseball, with help from MLB.com's reporters.

This could be the big one: It's possible that the biggest pre-Deadline deal of 2013 came to fruition on Tuesday night. Jake Peavy is headed from the White Sox to the Red Sox. Outfielder Avisail Garcia will go to the White Sox from Detroit, with the Red Sox sending infielder Jose Iglesias to the Tigers.

The move has all sorts of ramifications, in all directions. First and foremost, the Red Sox make the impact move they had clearly been trying to pull off -- and they do so without parting with any of their top prospects.

For the Tigers, Iglesias may not start right away but could fill a very important role. Their regular shortstop, Jhonny Peralta, is one of the players who have been linked to the Biogenesis clinic in Florida. With multiple reports indicating that suspensions could be in the offing for players associated with the clinic, the Tigers provide themselves cover in case they have to do without Peralta.

As for the White Sox, the move would seem to indicate how they view their position going forward. It seems likely that they would now also try to move Alex Rios, if they are in fact looking toward the future.

The trade even impacts the Phillies. With Boston securing a top starting pitcher, it would appear to remove the team that may have been the primary suitor for Cliff Lee -- if in fact the Phils had any interest in moving Lee this month.

Callaspo moves north: The A's added another infielder in the form of Alberto Callaspo, bringing in a versatile player who will apparently play second base for them.

Callaspo, 30, has started at five positions in the Major Leagues, but the A's hope he will shore up the keystone, where they've been inconsistent. He'll take over the left side of a second-base platoon with Eric Sogard, and also allow Sogard to play a little shortstop, spelling Jed Lowrie.

From the Angels' perspective, the move has two benefits. They're off the hook for Callaspo's $4.875 million for 2014, allowing them some flexibility as they seek starting pitching.

But perhaps more important, they acquire infielder Grant Green. Primarily a second baseman, Green has also played some shortstop. He provides depth for the Angels in case they decide to move second baseman Howie Kendrick or shortstop Erick Aybar in a trade for a starter.

Angels eyeing Kennedy: And speaking of those Angels ... Two years removed from contending for a Cy Young Award, Ian Kennedy could soon be changing addresses. MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports that the Angels have real interest in Kennedy, who is having a down year but cannot be a free agent until after 2015.

There's one big attraction about Kennedy, as far as the Halos are concerned, according to Gonzalez: they could get him without parting with Aybar or Kendrick. It's seemed that those two players were the Angels' keys to upgrading their rotation. If they could get a real improvement without giving up either one, it would be a coup.

Young at center of attention: Michael Young isn't the hitter he once was, but in a market short of impact bats, he's drawing some interest. And it appears he could well be headed out of town.

The Phillies called up third-base prospect Cody Asche on Tuesday, and MLB.com's Todd Zolecki called the move "a strong indication" that Young will be on the move. The problem for the Phillies is that Young has no-trade protection, and he's willing to use it.

Young himself hasn't spoken publicly about his preference, but rumors have leaked out all day. FOXSports.com reported that Young would only approve a move back to Texas, but later reports during the day have indicated that if the Rangers aren't an option, he would consider other destinations. Boston and the Yankees are among the clubs that could be interested in Young.

Scratch, scratch: Two pitchers believed to be on the trade market were scratched from scheduled starts on Tuesday, and a third team may be wishing it had followed suit.

Peavy and Bud Norris, both slated to take the mound in Tuesday games, were instead held back -- Peavy has since been dealt, and rumors abound regarding Norris. Meanwhile, Yovani Gallardo suffered a left hamstring injury in his start Tuesday, likely eliminating any chance the Brewers could move him before the Deadline.

Norris could be next: Norris is very much in play. It just seems to be a question of where. The D-backs, Pirates, and Orioles are among the leaders for the right-hander's services, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. Arizona, of course, makes even more sense as a destination if the Snakes decide to move Kennedy.

From Baltimore, MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli chimes in, confirming that the O's are one of the contenders. Norris, 28, is having the best season of his career, and is under team control through 2016 -- a combination that makes him pretty appealing.

Rios intrigues Yankees: Few teams have moved more aggressively all season to add to their roster than the Yankees. So it's little surprise they're still working. And with the White Sox perhaps fully open for business, there just might be a match.

MLB.com's Scott Merkin reports that New York has "renewed interest" in Rios, and that Rios would waive his no-trade protection in order to allow such a deal to happen.

Rios, who is signed through 2014, would join Alfonso Soriano in the new-look outfield/DH mix for the Yankees, who have been seeking right-handed power.

Wilson changes colors: It might not quite rank with Roger Clemens donning pinstripes, but Giants fans are going to have a hard time processing the sight of Brian Wilson in his new uniform. The former San Francisco closer signed with the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Wilson will begin his Dodgers tenure on the disabled list as he recovers from his second Tommy John surgery, but the expectation is that he'll be with the big club before too long. He bolsters a bullpen that can use the help.

'Scrabble' moves east: Monday's first completed trade was a fairly small one. The Indians got the left-handed reliever they wanted, while the Cardinals got some value for a player for whom they had little use.

Marc Rzepczynski joins the Cleveland bullpen in exchange for shortstop Juan Herrera. Rzepczynski, known as "Scrabble," had fallen out of favor in St. Louis and may benefit from a fresh start. Herrera, 20, has shown some speed and on-base ability and is currently playing short-season Class A ball.

With Rzepczynski moving on, the Cardinals no longer have any of the players they acquired in the July 31, 2011, deal that sent Colby Rasmus to Toronto.

Stanton not moving, but ... It's clear the Red Sox are thinking big. Before acquiring Peavy, they were repeatedly linked with Cliff Lee, and they are a potential "sleeper" for Giancarlo Stanton, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.

As Frisaro has reported, the Marlins have pretty much zero interest in moving Stanton. He's team-controlled for three more seasons, and Miami believes it will be contending before that time is up.

Still, nobody is untouchable, and Boston has the kind of store of prospects that could pry away someone like Stanton. Between Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Allen Webster, the Red Sox could -- if they wanted to -- present an extremely appealing package.